Bet ~Jean x Reader AU~

Chapter 29: Wake

~Jean's POV~

Marianne Baegley. I thought, my eyes falling on the many bouquets and flowers huddled in the center of campus. It had been a few hours since they announced the news about the girl and they had only just released her name moments later. Marianne Baegley. First year, second semester. Pledging for the SOA house. She had just one more week before she was officially a member. My gaze drifted to a photo someone had placed there.

The smile on her face had been so warm and sincere, the freckles on her cheeks adding innocence to her. Her wavy red hair fell to the middle of her back. Everything about her appeared so happy and I knew...I knew that would have been how she wanted to be remembered. Happy. Healthy. Smiling. She wouldn't want the world to remember her as a broken victim. No, she wanted us to recall her as being a vibrant, cheerful girl with high dreams and hopes.

I balled my hands into fists within the confinements of my jacket's pockets and swallowed the lump in my throat. Those dreams are all gone now. They'll never be achieved. The only person who could've obtained them is gone. I squeezed my eyes shut and breathed before opening them again. Rest in peace, Marianne. Don't worry...they'll catch the fucker who did this to you.

"Sorry I'm late," Marco huffed, panting as he caught his breath, pulling me back to reality.

I turned to see him, watching as he leaned forward, resting his hands on his knees. His shoulders rose and fell heavily, his pants filling the air. I had no idea where he had come from, but it must have one hell of a jog. Either that or he was out of shape. Regardless, there he was.

"Just run a marathon?" I questioned, lifting a brow.

"Ha ha," he laughed sarcastically, once again standing straight up. "It may or may not have been a long time since I ran."

"I'm going with the 'may' option," I snorted, rolling my eyes.

I once again directed my attention back to the flowers and photo of Marianne. A sharp twinge pulled at my chest. I was finding it difficult to process it all. It all felt so surreal to me. The whole situation was unbelievable. For once in my life, I just wanted to escape that feeling of hopelessness, but there I was...hopeless.

"So, it was Marianne, huh?" Marco asked, shuffling next to me.

"Yeah," I swallowed. "They announced that today."

"I know," he nodded. He brought his gaze to me. "How...how are you holdin' up? I mean, this has gotta be rough on you."

I shrugged, "I'm...still processing this, really."

I could feel him observing me, his gaze scanning me. I didn't dare to glimpse his way. I didn't dare to fall too deep into my thoughts. I just kept my stare averted down, soaking up the way Marianne's smile beamed, forever frozen in that million-dollar grin.

Marco continued, "Ya know, you don't have to act like this doesn't faze ya. You're strong, but you're still allowed to express what you're feeling." He lowered his voice into a gentle whisper. "Besides, the entire campus is still shaken up by this and you above everyone else is more than allowed to shed some tears, ya know."

"Crying's not going to bring her back," I sighed, glancing at him. "And it's not going to find the fucker who did this to her, either."

"True," he smiled softly, once more dropping his stare to the flowers. "But keeping it all bottled up and acting as if this isn't getting to you will only bring more harm than good. I mean, Marianne wouldn't wanna see you harboring all this and you know that."

"Marco," I huffed, slightly frustrated. "I don't need this lecture. You sound like my mother."

He rested a hand on my shoulder, his touch firm yet gentle, slowly drawing me back from my thoughts. I glimpsed at him, my eyes colliding with his dark orbs. There was a tint of seriousness behind them, though the corners of his lips were slightly drawn up.

"Hey. Say what you want, but your mom and I are both right," he said confidently. "This is a big deal. Marianne was your cousin, after all."

**Ello my sweet lovelies! Hope y'all don't mind the shorter chapter! Speaking of that, I'm not sure how many more chapters remain in this book, but it's not too many. Don't worry, there will most definitely be a second book. Details for that will be given at the very end of this one. Just stay tuned for that! As always, thank you soooo soooo sooooo much for everything! Y'all are the bee's knees!! Wuv yous!! <3**

-Noel Ross

P.S. "Pursuit of Glory" by Jhameel 😍😍